PDC World Darts Championship - Night Nine Round-Up

WADE POWERS PAST KLAASEN AS PAINTER & FARMER PROGRESS

WORLD number three James Wade powered into the third round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight sets victory over Jelle Klaasen on Friday night, as Kevin Painter and Steve Farmer joined him in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.

Wade, who claimed the UK Open title for a second time in June to cement his status as the PDC's second most successful player behind Phil Taylor, continued his bid for a maiden World Championship in style against the Dutchman.

The left-hander dropped only four legs in the match and averaged almost 96, although it was his clinical finishing which sent Klaasen packing, as he hit 12 from 21 attempts at doubles during the game, including six from six at double ten.

"It's great to be through and I can enjoy Christmas now," said Wade.

"My performance was good enough to win this game but I expected more from Jelle. After Christmas I've got to knuckle down because I don't think that performance will win me this title.

"At 2-0 up I lost my concentration but I'll get on with the game next time. I'll push on now and give it my best."

Wade now meets Steve Farmer in the last 16 on December 29, after the Shropshire ace defeated German newcomer Kevin Munch 4-2.

Munch had seen off Malaysian Lee Choon Peng in the preliminary round last week and received a walkover when Denis Ovens withdrew from their first round game with a back injury, and impresed in taking two of the first three sets.

Farmer hit back to win the fourth 3-2 and then broke throw twice to win the fifth and lead the game for the first time, before defying finishes of 121 and 143 from the German youngster to take the next set and triumph.

"It's the best feeling in the world to be in the last 16, but it was a struggle," said Farmer. "I'd never heard of Kevin before the tournament and thought I'd win it 4-0, but the flow wasn't there for me.

"Kevin played quite well and put me under pressure, but I think my experience told in the end. I'll have a nice Christmas now, relax and put plenty of practice in, and it should be a great game against James."

Earlier in the night, Kevin Painter continued the form which took him to the Cash Converters Players Championship title earlier this month by seeing off Mark Walsh 4-3.

Painter took out finishes of 120 and 112 in taking the opening set and, after Walsh levelled, he won six out of seven legs to move 3-1 up.

After Painter missed two darts to win the game 4-1, Walsh hit back to force a deciding set, but the 2004 finalist was aided by a key 134 checkout as he took the seventh set 3-0 to progress.

"I'm going to have a nice Christmas now and know I'm in the third round," said Painter, who meets John Part or Richie Burnett in the third round. "I've got six days off now and I'm looking forward to coming back next week.

"Maybe a couple of years ago I'd have lost this game, but things are going well for me, I've got a lot of fight in me and I'm confident in what I'm doing."

The tournament will resume following its Christmas break on December 27, with six games split across two sessions, which include 15-time World Champion Phil Taylor against Dave Chisnall.

Terry Jenkins plays Co Stompe in the opening game of the day, with Burnett and Part clashing in a battle of former World Champions before Vincent van der Voort and Andy Hamilton meet in the afternoon's other game.

James Richardson will look to follow up his sensational first round win over Raymond van Barneveld with victory over Belgian Kim Huybrechts in the evening session's opening game, with Paul Nicholson and Alan Tabern clashing after Taylor faces Chisnall.

KEVIN PAINTER 4-3 MARK WALSH (3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0) KEVIN PAINTER claimed a place in the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-3 victory over Mark Walsh as he continued his run of form.

Painter - who won the Cash Converters Players Championship earlier this month - led the match 3-1 and looked on course to take victory in the fifth set when he had two darts at double top to win the match, only to miss and allow Walsh to hit back.

The Hertfordshire ace won the next two sets to level, only to see Painter take the decider 3-0 to set up a third round meeting with either John Part or Richie Burnett.

"I'm going to have a nice Christmas now and know I'm in the third round," said Painter. "I've got six days off now and I'm looking forward to coming back next week.

"Maybe a couple of years ago I'd have lost this game, but things are going well for me, I've got a lot of fight in me and I'm confident in what I'm doing.

"Mark made me fight all the way but in the last set I knew I had to hold throw, and the 134 to break him in the last set was an incredible shot - all three darts were in the middle and it was a great shot which turned the match.

"I know I've got to improve, and I was pretty poor at times in different places. I've got to work on that, but maybe I was a little bit too relaxed and maybe I've got to concentrate a little bit more."

Walsh hit a 180 with his first three darts, but missed doubles proved expensive as Painter hit a 120 checkout to start the match confidently.

Walsh took the second leg before Painter, who came through a four-set tussle against Arron Monk in the first round, forged ahead again by taking third.

Walsh held throw for a second time to take the fourth, before Painter took the set in the deciding leg with an excellent 112 finish.

Walsh hit a maximum in the process of taking the first leg of set two, before Painter hit double 16 at the first time of asking to claim the second.

Walsh hit double eight to win the third leg and took the next by landing double ten to level the match, after Painter missed double top for a 118 finish.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs of set three, and Painter continued that trend by taking out 71 to win the third.

The fourth leg saw the Daventry-based thrower hit a 96 finish, landing double 18 with his third dart to lead for the second time.

Painter hit double 16 to make a winning start to the fourth set, before hitting the same bed to win the second leg, which included a 180.

Painter then won the set with a superb 11-dart finish to move further clear of his opponent, as an 81 checkout gave him a 3-1 advantage in the match.

Walsh secured a break of throw at the start of the fifth set, but five missed darts to take the second were costly as Painter hit double ten to step in.

Painter won the third leg with a 13-dart finish to move to the brink of victory, before Walsh replied on double 18 to keep his hopes alive.

The deciding leg saw Painter miss two darts at double top to win the match, and Walsh held his nerve with an accurate dart at the same bed to take the set and hit back.

Walsh, seeded 11 for this year's event, won the first leg on double top before the second saw both players struggle to find the winning double.

Painter missed five chances, but Walsh was off-target with six attempts and was punished as double two put the 2004 finalist level.

Both players held throw in the next two legs, before Walsh took the decider by hitting double four with his first dart, to force a seventh set.

Painter hit double four to win the first leg of the deciding set, and then took the second with the aid of a 180 and a superb 134 checkout.

That put the in-form ace a leg away from a victory which was duly secured as he took out another 81 finish to wrap up his last 16 place.

JAMES WADE 4-0 JELLE KLAASEN (3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1) JAMES WADE powered into the third round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a convincing 4-0 triumph over Jelle Klaasen.

The number three seed dropped just four legs during the course of the match and will now face either Steve Farmer for a place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace.

The left-hander averaged almost 96 in taking the win, although it was his clinical finishing which sent Klaasen packing, as he hit 12 from 21 attempts at doubles during the game, including six from six at double ten.

"I felt confident tonight, even though I didn't produce a great performance," said the reigning UK Open champion.

"I haven't produced my best form yet in this World Championship, and that's a real motivation for me to do well this week."

Wade held throw in the opening leg, before breaking throw in the next with the aid of a maximum to double his lead.

Both players hit 180s in the third leg, before Wade took it by hitting double ten for the second successive leg to claim the first set comfortably.

The world number three continued his good start to the match by breaking throw at the start of the second set, before hitting double ten again to take the second.

Klaasen converted an 80 finish to record his first leg of the match, but Wade took the fourth on double top to increase his lead to 2-0.

The Dutchman hit a clinical 99 finish to break throw at the beginning of the third set, and then fired a 180 in the process of taking the second in 13 darts.

However, he would be punished for missed darts to win the set in the next two legs, as Wade hit back to level before finishing double ten in the decider to pull clear a 3-0.

Another break of throw for Wade put him in charge of the fourth set, and an 11-dart finish moved him to the brink of victory before Klaasen took the third to keep his hopes alive.

Wade, though, was clinical in completing victory with another 11-darter as he sealed the win in style.

Munch led the match 2-1 and had chances to lead 3-1, but Farmer edged the fourth set before taking six of the next eight legs to win the match.

The former landscape gardener from Shropshire will now return to Alexandra Palace after Christmas to compete in the third round for the first time, when he takes on number three seed James Wade.

Munch had defeated Malaysia's Lee Choon Peng in the preliminary round and received a walkover in the first round when Denis Ovens withdrew from their game with a back injury, but showed his quality by winning the game's first three legs to take the opening set without reply.

Farmer hit a 79 finish to make a positive start to set two, before the German replied by landing double 18 to take the second.

Farmer hit a 177 in the process of taking the third leg, but missed a dart at the bullseye to win the set in the next, and Munch hit double two to level.

The Shropshire thrower held advantage of throw in the deciding leg, and he hit double eight to level the match.

Munch held throw at the start of the third set, but missed three darts at double 16 to claim the second, which Farmer won with a 68 finish.

Farmer, who defeated Ronnie Baxter in the first round, won the third leg against the darts, but missed two darts to win the set in the next, and Munch hit double ten with a pressure third dart to level.

The deciding leg saw Farmer miss three darts to win the set - adding two the two of the previous leg - and Munch hit double 16 to lead the match for the second time.

Both players held throw in the first two legs of set four, before Farmer continued that trend by taking the third and Munch finished 85 for the fourth.

However, the German could not capitalise on seven missed darts for set from his opponent in the decider, allowing Farmer to return and hit double one to square the game.

Farmer then broke throw at the start of the fifth set, before hitting double top with his first darts to take the second.

He then broke the 23-year-old German's throw for the second time in the set to move 3-2 up, before taking the first leg of the sixth set with a clinical two-dart 97 finish.

Munch hit an excellent 121 checkout to win the second but Farmer moved a leg away from the match by winning the third with an 80 finish.

The fourth leg saw Farmer leave 84 after 12 darts, but Munch took out a fabulous 143 checkout to keep the game alive.

Farmer was first to a finish in the fifth, and he landed double 16 to win the match and set up a third round clash against James Wade.

"It's the best feeling in the world to be in the last 16, but it was a struggle," said Munch. "I'd never heard of Kevin before the tournament and thought I'd win it 4-0, but the flow wasn't there for me.

"Kevin played quite well and put me under pressure, but I think my experience told in the end.

"I'm going to try to take each game as it comes and I'll definitely play better than that in the last 16 against James, and it will be a great game. I'll have a nice Christmas now, relax and put plenty of practice in."

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